Inside the newsletter decoding cutting-edge tech

Three years ago, on a Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Vanguard trip to Silicon Valley, Charlotte Print, now a final year, Law and Arts student at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, heard something that stuck.

An investor was asked how he kept up with emerging technology. He shared that he spent his free time exploring patent databases, surfacing ideas long before they reached the market, and exposing a gap in how most people access the knowledge that shapes investment decisions. “It kind of clicked something for me,” Charlotte says. “I realised patents are where the newest ideas show up first, before they ever reach the market.”

At the time, the idea of being one step ahead of the game felt obvious but also inaccessible. Patent databases are public, but navigating them is time-consuming, technical, and often overwhelming.

Later, a conversation with fellow student, Sharjil Kazi, raised the idea of a newsletter that builds off that practice. When asked what kind of newsletter he would create, “He said he would break down patents into plain English and explore their commercial potential. It was one of those moments where everything just came together.”

With their complementary skills spanning engineering, technology, mathematics, law, film and media, Sharjil and Charlotte launched Hot Off the Patent Press, a newsletter that translates complex patent filings into clear, structured insights for a growing global audience. At its core, the newsletter takes early stage, often highly technical innovations and makes them understandable, relevant and useful.

“We break down what the technology actually does, what problem it solves, and where it might fit in the market,” Charlotte explains. “Then we look at competitors, investment activity, and where the industry might be heading.”

They launched a year ago, and their approach has resonated with a wide readership, from founders and investors to those simply curious about emerging technology. For investors, it offers a practical way to stay ahead. “It's about staying on top of the latest tech in a non-technical way,” Charlotte says. “You can see where money is flowing and what problems people are trying to solve next.”

Each issue also encourages readers to think beyond the patent itself, using it as a springboard for new ideas. “We try to help people practice entrepreneurial thinking. Not just what this idea is, but what else it could become.”

Charlotte’s experience as CEO of Velocity, the University of Auckland’s flagship entrepreneurship programme in 2023, played a key role in shaping both her perspective and the early traction of the newsletter. Through Velocity and CIE’s Unleash Space, she built connections across the start-up and investor ecosystem, many of whom became early supporters. The newsletter gained initial momentum through word of mouth, with backing from the community and features in networks such as Icehouse helping promote the concept.

That validation has continued. Feedback from investors has been valuable, alongside encouragement from well-known figures and investors in the ecosystem. “Hearing that what we’re doing is valuable from an investor perspective is a really strong affirmation for us,” Charlotte says.

What started as a small, community-driven project for New Zealand readers is now reaching audiences around the world. For now, the focus is on growing the audience and continuing to deliver value. “We’re still at the early stages,” Charlotte says. “We just want to encourage people who are interested to subscribe and explore it.”

Charlotte says there is potential to expand beyond patents and build a broader platform around emerging ideas and technologies. “We’d love to build a community around it,” she says. “A space where people are talking about what’s coming next.”

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